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Together for Clean Water

At Coffee 4 Water, we believe in partnership — because big change takes many hands. That’s why we work alongside Water to Thrive, a trusted nonprofit that has spent over 15 years building more than 2,000 water projects across East Africa, bringing clean water to over 1 million people.

Every time you purchase our coffee, you’re not just buying a bag of beans — you’re joining a network of farmers, community leaders, engineers, donors, and partners who are working together to end the water crisis. This partnership ensures that the wells we fund are designed for long-term sustainability, supported by local communities, and carefully monitored from start to finish.

Your cup of coffee is part of this story — and so are the smiles of the children in these communities who no longer have to walk for hours every day just to fetch water.

How We Work Together

Developing water projects in rural East Africa is not a one-size-fits-all process. Mountain villages face different challenges than desert regions, and river areas present different needs than the plains. Our partnership with Water to Thrive ensures every project is tailored to its location and community.

The process begins with in-country partners, who meet with local leaders and families to identify where the greatest need for water exists. They choose the best solution — whether a hand-dug well, a drilled deepwell, or another appropriate project — and prepare a detailed proposal for funding. Each proposal is carefully reviewed to make sure costs are fair, construction is feasible, and timelines are realistic.

Once funded, construction begins — often during the dry season, when work is safest and most efficient. The process can take up to 18 months, but regular progress updates keep us connected to the project every step of the way. Communities are trained in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices and form water committees who take ownership of the well’s maintenance and operation.

Sustainable Impact, Community-Owned

A well opening day is a celebration — a moment when the entire community gathers to witness the first flow of clean, safe water. But sustainability goes beyond that first day. Water to Thrive’s approach ensures each project has long-term success by making the community an active participant from beginning to end.

Every village forms a WASH committee that is responsible for the oversight, management, and upkeep of their water point. Families contribute time, labor, and even a small monthly fee to keep the system maintained. This shared responsibility creates a deep sense of ownership and pride, making it far more likely that the water will keep flowing for years to come.

Our partnership doesn’t end when the well is built. Through programs like Water Guardians, donors and supporters fund ongoing efforts to keep clean water accessible and sustainable across rural Africa. Together, we are not just digging wells — we are building stronger, healthier communities for generations.

The Values Behind Every Cup

DIRECT

We keep things simple and clear. From our coffee sourcing to our mission, we tell you exactly where your money goes and how it helps.

EFFICIENT

Your purchase creates immediate impact. We work with trusted partners to get projects funded, built, and maintained quickly and effectively.

TRANSPARENT

See the difference you make. Every project we fund is tracked, reported, and shared with you — complete with photos, GPS locations, and community updates.

ACCOUNTABLE

We hold ourselves to the highest standards. Every dollar is reviewed, every project monitored, and every well verified before we call it complete.

SUSTAINABLE

Our goal isn’t just to build wells, but to keep them running for years. We train local water committees and support ongoing maintenance to ensure lasting access to clean water.

Designed for Your Comfort

Our in-country partners meet with the communities they serve to determine where the greatest need for water is.

They identify which type of project will work best for each community and prepare a proposal for funding.

Before funding, every proposal is thoroughly reviewed to ensure acceptable costs and construction timelines.

We begin sharing the information from the projects with our supporters so they can see why these communities need their help.

We begin sharing the information from the projects with our supporters so they can see why these communities need their help.

We send the funds for each project to the field so our partners can begin constructing the wells.

Construction begins. Because the rainy season starts in late May, all construction work must happen between October and May.

It can take up to 18 months to fully complete a well. Working in these countries can be challenging, as infrastructure is limited.

Our partners send us regularly scheduled progress reports to keep us up to date with what’s happening on the ground.

Water committees are trained to operate and maintain each well. Every community receives comprehensive water, sanitation, and hygiene training.

Partners complete construction and training at every site. Training is the most important factor in the sustainability of each water point.

Water to Thrive receives completion reports that include photos, GPS coordinates, and beneficiary information.

We carefully review every completion report to ensure each project was completed on budget and in accordance with the original proposal.

Once verified, we share the completion reports with the donors, supporters, or sponsors who made the project possible.